Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-04

natural cUlOSltleS eXtant. FIRST
there is an array of empty cof
fins that once held the remains
of royalty. Further along is another ar
ray. not Of collins alone, but Of the actu-
| al remains of kings Of period SO re-
mote as to carry no real conception with
it of the flight of years. The custodian
removes the cover and reveals TO Us III
its original coffin the mummy with fea-
lures exposed of Thotmes II. who ruled
Egypt 1000 years B. c., of Seti l, the
father of Rameses the Great, and like
wise of Rameses ii himself, the same
who oppressed the children OF Israel;
also that of Rameses III, of Exodus
fame. These mummies have only been
brought to light in the last SIX years, al
though they We're known to Arab grave
robbers as far back as 1871.
From time to time antiquities of great
value We're offered for sale In Cairo,
which led to the suspicion that the lost
tombs of the ancient kings had been at
last discovered by some parties who were
working them as q rich mine. They
We're found to emanate from Luxor.
which lies contiguous to the ruins of
Thebes, and here, through a fine piece
of strategy. related at length i'll the Cen
| tury Magazine of about one year ago,
the royal sepulcher containing the mum
mics. of which the above mentioned
| together with the many valuables re-
manning untouched. were brought to
light and secretly conveyed to Cairo.
We spent pretty much whole day in
visiting the island of Roeta, where the
ancient nilometer, used for indicating
the rise Of the Nile is located, the citadel
where. in 1911, Mehemet Ali slew all the
Mamelukes except Amin Bey, who
| leaped the wall on his fiery steed and
| cleared the mOte-a distance OF fully
sixty feet. Then we took in the various
mosques of note and the tombs Of the
Mamelukes, kalifs and the present royal
family, who have passed in their checks.
| In old Cairo we gained entrance to an
ancient Coptic basilica, where tradition
says the Virgin and the Young Child re-
posed. Here, also, in a dilapldated
mosque we witnessed the religious antics
of the bowling dervishes-a scene only
| fit for mad house Near the citadel Oc-
ours annually the ceremonies connected
with the departure in the spring and the
return in the fall of the caravans to
Mecca. We were so fortunate as to
witness the latter in all its
pomp and foolishness. The procession,
| however, was as imposing as the queen s
jubilee. For four miles the streets lead
| ing to the large, open square near the
citadel. was a mass Of humanity. the
red fez. white turban and gowns of
many colors, presented Kaleidoscope
view not seen outside of oriental coun-
! tries. First came band numbering
about fifty instruments, preceded by
| three men on camels, followed by a
battalion of soldiers in white uniform.
! Next came a battery OF six guns loaded
on the backs OF camels, then troop OF
mounted infantry on camels. A band
PLAYING followed next. and behind them
| came the guards of the sacred carpet,
about which all this fuss was being made,
and crowding close around them a
motley crowd of bowling dervishes.
There was perhaps 100 large flags, and
banners in the procession, but
they were switched off before
reaching my place of observation.
Next. the camel advanced
gIittering with gold beSpangled cloth
that covered a canopy perched on the
camel's back. beneath which was the
sacred emblems of Islam. Bringing up
the rear was a long string OF calnels
bearing men on their backs. who III
cessantIv hammered on a rude kind Of
drum or made discOrdant noises with
wind instruments made of sugar cane.
In the center of this UNIQUE cavalcade
rode the ruler of the Empire-the khe-
dive. Tcwfik. He sat IN an open car
rage attended by three of his ministers
of state. raising his hand back and forth
to his head. as the custom OF the
N0slems. in returning the saiutes Of the
multitude. who received him. not with
the plaudits that rcsOunded in the ears
of Ouaen Victoria from her own subjects.
but with a strange gutteral sound. inai-
eating. amongst these peculiar people
suprerne reverence and satisfaction. He
wore no insignia of royalty, and might
have been taken for a black bearded
European save for the distinguished
mark of the red fez.
When the designated spot had beer
reached, the camel was made 10 knee
down. aud the khcdive, amidst peals OF
cannon. received back the carpet frou
the hands 10 which he had intrusted il
SIX months previous. and who had pro
terted il from sacrilege on the long
wearisome journey to and from Mecca,
After this part of the ceremony was con
Guided the immense crowd dispersed.
We drove out one day past numerou:
palaces. fine gardens and through beau
tifully shaded avenues to the site Of The
ancient Heliopolis or City Of the sun
called in the Bible the City of On Here
stood the temple of Ra, the great SUI
god of the Egyptians. \ priest OF TIM:
temple once had lovely daughter
named Asenath. Ii you search Tbs
scriptures YOU VIII find that Asenath b.
came the wife Of the virtuous Joseph
We are now i'll the land OF Goshen
where this aiaiabla youth who had srf
! fered all the wrongs of outrageous for
tune al length realized the full fruitior
Of the old adage that virtue IS is owH
reward
All that remains OF Heiiopahs Is afra-
. naent ~ wall and a supeTt' red grants
/ Ogelssk. 90 feet in height i marks ths
sight CT the temple aE,i has eascapee
i nlutiiation and for : wonder has 11eVei
: been presented 70 any foEei-,-. g0verTa
, nlant. Returning from here We stoppee
: II a garden and saw that renlarkaole OF
) sycamore tree where tradition says ihi